ABSTRACT
The benefits of cognitive mapping to problem-based learning can be explained on the cognitive, metacognitive, and social dimensions. Learners construct cognitive maps to present their understanding and ideas; the externalization of thinking has the potential to reduce the cognitive load required by complex problem solving. Cognitive maps can facilitate learners’ planning, monitoring, and evaluation of their problem-solving process; in addition, as a shared artifact, the maps make the learner easily aware of their misunderstanding or incorrect reasoning. From the social perspective, the cognitive maps serve as shared cognition or as discussion anchors that coordinate the discourse between peers during collaborative problem solving.
